Help! The crappie have lock jaw! Need advice!

I am currently focusing all of my efforts on a 12-15 acre private lake in IL near the iowa line. From 1st ice all the way until last Sunday I was rippin lips on some nice slabs and big bass. A cold front and about 3-4" of snow came in and i cant get a bite. Im using an FL18 and watching the crappie come up to my bait, sniff and LEAVE every time. I am marking fish all over the lake! No takers .. I've tried spoons big to small, finesse plastics, glow in the dark, minnows/waxys/spikes ... Slow subtle presentation to fast. Any advice would be appreciated. I know the crappie are plentiful in this very small lake (around 30ft, spring fed, clear and steep drop offs.) It was dug out for fill to build the interstate. Please let me know if you can help me decide what may be going on. Thanks!

Have you tried using scents? When the water get colder I usually just let the bait sit still. It works for me.

Yes, I have tried Gulp minnows (1") in a variety of colors. Thanks! I might try going at a completely different Time and see what happens.

Try longlining. It is a good search tool for finding slabs.

Several years ago in Wyoming the perch would only take minnows that had been given a shot of scent. You could drop a minnow without scent in one hole and a scented one in a hole a foot away and the scented minnow would get bit immediately while the other just sat there all day. I don't recall the scent variety, but it was thick and stuck to the minnows. I made some out of glycerin and anise oil that seemed to work as well as the store variety. Also, from my relatives in Wisconsin, the crappie happy hour is the last hour up until dark. The plankton or mysids or whatever is living on the bottom start a rise to the surface which seems to trigger the crappie bite. They can see the water start to go cloudy and the crappie move in to feed.

Crappie nibbles, and shoot em up the tube with a syringe. Then hold still.

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Originally Posted by thicks

Crappie nibbles, and shoot em up the tube with a syringe. Then hold still.

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Ive heard of this before, somewhat, could you explain?

Thanks for the scent advice! I will try to pick something up @ the baitshop today.

Just take a 10 cc syringe put 8 or 10 nibble in it, put a tube on a jig then stick the syringe in it and give it a push and your nibble will come out the end and fill the tube up and then just slowly come out once in the water.

Yip....the jig will fill up like a balloon and it'll hold bait for quite awhile. Saves time tippin the jig.

clfarms, thats a new one on me and a great idea. I like most just hooked a nibble on the hook and ya know how long that last. I have a ...or I should say the wife has a cajon injector syringe in the kitchen. dont think she'll miss it till atleast next thanksgiving :Rofl

thx for the tip!

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Originally Posted by slabbacks

clfarms, thats a new one on me and a great idea. I like most just hooked a nibble on the hook and ya know how long that last. I have a ...or I should say the wife has a cajon injector syringe in the kitchen. dont think she'll miss it till atleast next thanksgiving :Rofl

thx for the tip!

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If we no longer hear anything from ya, we know you got caught. I would advise you to stay out of the kitchen.

too late, works great on the stuff I had in the den but the ones out in the boat were a little hard due to the temps i guess. keep it warm and it flows like a charm.

brush, found it all the way in the back of the other stuff...i may me good for a while :biggrin

I been using a cajun injector and nibbles for a couple of years. Works great and only cost is for the nibbles.

Cpaint, Try this. From Louisiana and this is called "Cajun Candy". Get 3 or 4 medium to large shrimp raw. Peel and cut into small pieces. Next cover with salt and let drain overnight in the fridge in your boat room. Next day, cut into nibblet sizes and add a little more salt. They will be firm now. Put them in a zip lock sandwhich bag and chunk them into the freezer. When you go take them and tip your jig with one of these shrimp nibblets. One thing is for sure, I have never met a fish that didn't like a shrimp...even from up da riva. Go small in the winter and slow it down big time...and yes HANG ON. Good Luck In all that ice.....SLIP

slip cork- iv actually heard of this and heard it works well! thanks for the post!

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Originally Posted by SLIP-CORK

Cpaint, Try this. From Louisiana and this is called "Cajun Candy". Get 3 or 4 medium to large shrimp raw. Peel and cut into small pieces. Next cover with salt and let drain overnight in the fridge in your boat room. Next day, cut into nibblet sizes and add a little more salt. They will be firm now. Put them in a zip lock sandwhich bag and chunk them into the freezer. When you go take them and tip your jig with one of these shrimp nibblets. One thing is for sure, I have never met a fish that didn't like a shrimp...even from up da riva. Go small in the winter and slow it down big time...and yes HANG ON. Good Luck In all that ice.....SLIP

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This just sounds like something you gotta try! Im on it today since I've been stuck in the house the last two days due to weather. Stir crazy! Thanks for the tip!!!

Instead of just saying they are not biting have you tried different depths? Do you use a depthfinder to look for them or fishing blind?

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Instead of just saying they are not biting have you tried different depths? Do you use a depthfinder to look for them or fishing blind?

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